An Emerging Theory of Boredom in Recovery for Adult Substance Users with HIV/AIDS Attending an Urban Day Treatment Program

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative inquiry, which used a grounded theory design, is to present a theory of boredom in recovery, for adult substance users with HIV/AIDS. As part of an ongoing doctoral dissertation, one 58-year-old male ex-heroin and cocaine user was repeatedly interviewed at an urban day treatment facility where the researcher has spent the last three years. Boredom's spiraling circularity and tenacity emerged as themes: When recovery begins, passive leisure and marijuana set up and relieve boredom. Hence, boredom seems a spiraling circularity in that the stimulus and response to boredom are similar. Even though a bigger occupation, reflecting the participant's previous dreams, rather than everyday activity, soon reorganize life with progressively less substance use, the tendency toward boredom persists 20 years into recovery. The recreation of rapidly altering new challenges and a rich variety of strategies to alleviate boredom is suggested by these initial findings.

Key Words:

• Boredom
• substance use
• HIV/AIDS
• occupation